(1) “The Church would continue to criticize President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs…”
(2) “The Church would continue to be understanding and very patient with Mr. Duterte…”
(3) “Even before, the Church has been very, very understanding, and very, very patient.”
(4) “We just need to understand the President. I think [his tirade] was an outburst born out of anger.”
(5) “The CBCP desires to end all the bickering between the Church and the President but the Church leaders will continue to speak against the methods employed by the Duterte administration in its campaign against illegal drugs.”
(Note: More than 7,000 people have been killed by police and unknown assailants since Duterte launched his war on drugs after taking office in June last year).
(6) “The Church is not the enemy of the President or of the government.”
(7) “We have the same intention to end criminality and the drug problem, but perhaps we differ in strategies.”
(8) “We do not condone criminality, but we continue to emphasize that [punishment] must be done in a legal manner.”
(9) “If Mr. Duterte did not have immunity from suit, I would bring defamation and libel charges against him”. (Bishop Ted Bacani).
(10) “A bishop or priest who is guilty of a serious offense should indeed resign if their continued stay in their position harms the Church and the faithful.”
(11) “We bishops have a mandate from God, appointed by the Holy Father. We can resign only to the Pope, not to anyone, even to the President.”
(12) “We have our shortcomings and sometimes we fail but we are contrite and rise up. And God forgives and trusts us again and again. God will never resort to our past. Let God be our judge. Let our people decide for us.”
(13) “Duterte is entitled to his opinion. Doctors should not stop healing people just because they get sick. Nobody is perfect.”
(14) “Duterte’s words were uttered thoughtlessly, not worthy of consideration.”
(15) “When insulted, the Lord Jesus has taught us not to retaliate. We should rather respond with prayer.”
(16) “While we are hurt by Mr. Duterte’s attack, it is improper for us to be angry”.
(17) “Let us not be carried away by emotions and react negatively. That is not fruitful.”
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A ranking official of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) on Wednesday said the Church would continue to criticize President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs, after the foulmouthed leader attacked the clergy anew on Tuesday, saying…
NEWSINFO.INQUIRER.NET|BY JHESSET ENANO, LEILA B. SALAVERRIA
